A/N: Quick thanks to all of you for getting my book to the 20k reads milestone! That is incredible to me, because I never believed that this would get this far or this many reads. Anyway, I'm excited for y'all to read this, because now is when I will begin picking things up and showing why things are definitely not cliche in this book. There are a lot of very big paragraphs in this chapter, but trust me, you need to read them. They are all super important. Enjoy!

**If you want an early update, 25 votes and 20 comments**

Collin's POV

Nana is driving me crazy.

She is normally one of the only people in the world who can bring me peace and happiness. She's a wonderful woman who can dazzle you with her smile and beguile you with the twinkle in her eyes.

Today is not one of those times.

All she can talk about is how wonderful Dominic is, and how handsome Dominic is, and why do I look so tired? Looking tired won't look good for my career, so I need to go check myself in a dermatologist. And while I'm at it I need to go and run because I'm starting to get a paunch. Oh, and did she mention how wonderful Dominic is?

The only good thing to come out of her mouth all evening has been about how much she loves Steph. I will never leave her just because Nana doesn't approve, but it's nice to feel my relationship accepted. She's the one who's gotten me out both of the slumps that came to my life, and she's always been there for me no matter what. It pained me so much to see her depressed when pop died, so I'll weather through her infatuation with Dominic if it means she's happy.

I wipe me face with my hand for the millionth time today when Nana gives yet another story of what Dominic did for her the other day. Just as I'm contemplating if death by the knife in the corner is worth it to get away from this, my phone rings, and I thank God. Someone up there must love me. I excuse myself to my room and I answer my phone which shows Noah as the caller. He'd gone out earlier to do God knows what.

"Hello?"

"Collin! It's me, Noah, I need your advice. Let's say, as a hypothetical absolutely unrealistic situation, that some guy wanted to ask a girl out with a grand gesture. Would it be better to just buy a huge bouquet of flowers with a card, or to rent a limo and bring a big banner with the words will you be my girlfriend on it?"

I smirk knowing that this is definitely not hypothetical.

"Noah, I think the girl would appreciate either one just as much, but I personally think the flowers is a better way to go since it's just asking her out. Oh, and by the way Noah, you could have just said you wanted to ask Amy out." I tell him. He sputters into the phone.

"W-w-what are you talking about? I told you this is a hypothetical!"

"Uh huh, I'll pretend that I believe that," I say with a smirk and hang up. I crack up at the idiocy of my best friend, but my phone ringing again stops me. I check the caller ID, and smile at the word Bambi.

"Hey baby what's up?" I ask her.

"Collin you need to get over here right now. There is a group of paparazzi outside of the house about three feet thick and I don't know what to do!"

My eyes widen, and I rush to the door after reassuring Steph that everything would be fine. I dial the number I know by heart now as put my socks and shoes on, and rush to my car with my phone next to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, I need your help."

****

Stephanie's POV

I wring my hands as I wait for Collin nervously. I thought I was prepared to deal with this part of his life, but in truth I'm not. The huge group of people outside the door are relentless, and I don't know how long the door will be enough to keep them away.

The blinds have all been drawn, much to the disappointment of Haley who was more than happy to wave like a pageant queen to the cameras outside. I've always said that girl is fit to be a movie star. I worry more over the other Jameson family members in the house. They say they don't mind, but I feel guilty that I've brought this circus to their front porch. Especially to Mike who looks like he's about to blow a gasket on the people outside any moment now.

I pace back and forth in the living room, a habit I've grown way too comfortable with, until a commotion can be heard outside. Everyone peeks through the slats in the windows, and at first all we can see is three huge men making way through the crowd of reporters. When they reach the front door, however, I can see shaggy brown hair from behind them that I can now easily identify as my boyfriend's. Well, that, and the fact that the paparazzi behind him are going even more crazy taking dozens upon dozens of pictures. The big men in the front knock on the door repeatedly, and I hurry to open it before their gargantuan hands rip it from its hinges without even trying.

The second I open it, the dulled voices I'd heard in the house become much louder and the giants usher Collin in quickly. He looks as around worriedly until his eyes land on me, and he gathers me in his arms. I bury my face into his strong chest, suddenly feeling tired and wanting nothing more than to cry. Somehow his addictive smell calms me, though, and I begin to feel more relaxed. He presses his lips to my head in a soft kiss.

"I'm so sorry, Bambi," he says, sorrowful. I lift my head up and give him a soft smile.

"This is a part of being in your life. I'm simply going to have to get used to it, because I don't know about you, but I don't plan on ending this anytime soon, if ever." I tell him firmly. He gazes at me in wonder and cups my face with both of his hands.

"How'd I get so lucky to find you?" He asks in a hoarse voice. I grin cheekily.

"I don't know, I'm still wondering that myself."

He glares playfully, and I kiss him until he responds and kisses me back passionately. That is until Mike begins coughing excessively in the background, and we spring apart. I completely forgot there was anyone else in the room.

"You know you really should get that cough checked out at the doctor's office, Mike." I tell him, grinning. He opens his mouth to retort, but is interrupted by Huge Thing 1.

"Sir, the area has been evacuated. You are free to come and go, but I suggest Lennox and I stay here to make sure they don't decide to come back." He says. Collin nods.

"Alright, Remy, and thanks again." He tells him. Huge Thing 1, or Remy, bows his head in acknowledgement, then walks outside with Huge Thing 2 whom I now know is Lennox.

Collin turns to talk to me, but his phone rings and he frowns at the caller ID before looking at me apologetically and taking it. He walks outside to talk privately, and I watch as he continues to pass his hand through his hair agitatedly as he speaks. I walk outside to try and console him or something, but I'm stopped by the sight of a limo stopping in front of our house.

My eyes widen as I see Noah get out looking like a younger version of James Bond with the Three-piece black suit and slicked back hair. When he sees me he he waves me over, and I walk toward him completely confused.

"Hey, will you do me a huge favor and get Amy out here?" He asks, nervously.

"Um, sure?" I reply, uncertainly.

I go into the house and grab a a confused Amy out of her room, and when I come out I see Noah standing in front of Huge Things 1 and 2 who're holding up a huge banner. On it, in big glittering letters, it says: Will you go out with me Amy?

I look over at Amy, who stares at the banner like it just came from another universe, with her eyes looking huge and her mouth so wide her gum falls out. I look over at Noah to see the poor guy sweating bullets. I can't help but notice that he's also holding a bouquet of blue carnations which happens to be Amy's favorite flower. How he found that out, I'll never know.

After a while of Amy just standing there I finally pinch her a little, okay a lot, to get her to wake up from her daze. She yells out in pain and glares at me, but hey, it got the job done.

She runs over to Noah and yells out a big yes before jumping into his arms. They're squishing all the carnations, but I don't think either of them is very worried about that. When they part, they talk in hushed voices for a minute, then Amy walks over to me with Noah's hand gripped tightly in hers and a big smile on her face.

"Steph, I'm going to change so I can go out with Noah, okay?"

I wave them away, and a warm hand envelopes my shoulder just as they disappear inside. I turn and see Collin with a frown marring his features.

"I just got a call from Stan. You remember him right? The songwriter at my label. Well, he called to tell me there was a board meeting today of the top executives to meet with the man who's now the majority stockholder in the company by a landslide, which also makes him the boss of everyone. I don't know much, other than the fact that he was very stealthy about getting stock to ensure the current boss at Royal didn't suspect the overthrowing of the company. He says everyone was pretty worried he'd be worse than the one that's there now, whom as you know tries to control our lives, but apparently he's great. He said that the new guy is beginning to make reforms so that everyone can have way more control of their own careers, with the help of our managers of course, and he's drawing up new contracts that he'll give us time to review in order to free us from the tight restraints of before. The old boss, Leonardo, is spitting mad though. Guess he finally got what he had coming to him." He tells me excitedly. I draw back, shocked at all the news and happy it means Collin's life will get better.

"Collin that's great!" I say sincerely.

"Yeah, and you haven't heard the other news. To celebrate his entrance in the company, and to reveal himself to the rest of the people at the label, the new boss is throwing a huge masquerade ball in LA. He's invited everyone in the company as well as many important guests, and I have to have you there as my plus one."

My brain moves too quickly trying to process all the new information, and I feel the same way I did when Amy brought me to Six Flags and took me on the tilt-a-whirl. Dizzy from trying to process everything at the same time, and just a touch nauseous. Then, I remember that I got through the Starlight party perfectly, and was even able to put that Prima Donna Nicky in her place. Collin is my boyfriend, and a once in a lifetime type at that, so I will integrate myself into his life as best I can like he has done for me.

"I would love to come with you,: I tell him with a bright smile. Never mind that I'm freaking out about possibly embarrassing him in front of dozens of cameras, I can do this. Collin exhales, relieved, and hugs me tight.

"Great! Thanks so much, Bambi. This will be great, you'll see!" He says, walking me to the house as he does so.

We walk in, but we're stopped by the sight of Anna taking pictures of a blushing Amy and smirking Noah in their dress clothes.

(Amy's dress)

"Mom! Stop already with the pictures, I want to go!" Amy yells out, embarrassed. Anna concedes with an audible sigh, and the lovebirds leave with Mike's glare burning holes in their backs. He frowns and leaves the room with a determined look in his eyes, giving me the feeling that we'd probably have a visit from Amy's brothers soon.

I bring Collin upstairs to my room to hang out while dinner gets finished by Anna. We play some video games, sing a little, and talk about our dreams with interwined fingers and bursting hearts. Our time together is over way too quickly, but we seal a promise to see each other tomorrow to go over our plans for the party and the dutiful debutante fair that's fast approaching with a passionate kiss.

After a casserole dinner, I go up to my room to do homework, but I'm soon interrupted by a knock on the door. I look up to see Anna with a strange expression on her face.

"Steph, love, you have a visitor." She announces.

I frown and get my slippers to go downstairs. When I reach the ground floor, I'm given the shock of my life. The last person I'd expect to be here stands there with a defeated expression on her face.

"Carrie?"

****

Carrie stands in front of me. Her shoulders are slumped instead of their usual ramrod straight position, her hair has lost it's usual shine and is now a dull dirty blonde, her face is completely bare of makeup, and big bags cover the underside of her eyes. Even her clothes aren't the usual designer ensemble, but a simple cotton sundress and straw tote. I've never seen Carrie like this in the entire time I've known her. Frankly, it's kind of daunting.

She sighs and passes a hand through her hair, then looks at me with haunted eyes.

"So much has happened since you left, and I don't even know where to start." She tells me. She sits down on one of the plush couches of the living room and motions me to sit next to her. "I suppose I should start at the very beginning, or else none of what's happening will make sense to you."

I nod, gesturing for her to continue, and she takes a deep breath.

"I used to be that girl you see in school with her nose stuck in a book and huge glasses perched on her nose. I'd conjure up ideas of the perfect life I would live when I grew up. Probably because I was so sick of the life I'd been currently living. My dad had left my mother the second she said she was pregnant with me, and while she tried her best to be a good mother, she couldn't be as nurturing as she wanted to because she had to work two jobs. I barely ever saw her, and I was so lonely all the time. Books were my escape from reality; they were my dream world. Maybe that's why I turned out so gullible and desperate for love and affection."

She takes a deep, shuddering breath before continuing.

"When I was 18 I met Randy. He was everything I had always dreamed of in a man, and I fell deep and hard even though he was 27. We got married two months later, and I was pregnant with Stacy three months after that. I was just a kid who thought she needed a man to take care of her, and that if I did my best, he'd make me his princess. However, soon enough he began to change. Stacy was born and he stayed away from home more and more. One day, I remember I was feeding Stacy, he came home completely drunk. I tried to calm him down, but he just kept screaming at Stacy while she cried and telling her she was the reason his life was awful. Then, he suddenly grabbed a pan and went to hit her with it, but I threw myself in the way so it wouldn't hurt her. I suffered a big bruise on my head, but luckily no lasting damage. He was incredibly compassionate once he sobered up, and he did everything he could to make it up to me, even going as far as doing the chores of the house and not drinking a drop of liquor for four years. But it wasn't enough."

Tears run down her cheeks, but her face remains stoic. Almost like she's trying to make sure the entire dam doesn't break.

"He came home from work spitting mad around eight at night. Apparently, they'd fired him to hire some new guy straight out of college. Randy couldn't stand that, and he left immediately to the bar. He came back around midnight drunk out of his mind, and began beating me the second he was home. He pulled my hair, punched my face and body, and yelled at me that I was worthless and he never should have married me. I tried to get him to stop with everything I could, but I was simply too weak. He only stopped when he was too tired to go on, and then left me for dead on the floor. It took every ounce of strength I had to get out of there with Stacy and a few belongings, but I managed and was able to get to a hospital as well. They treated my wounds and helped me contact the police to get a restraining order and a swift divorce. The restraining order came through, but the divorce was put on hold no matter what I did. I tried to pick up the pieces of my life and got a job and a tiny apartment to take care of Stacy and myself. I truly thought the worst of it was over, but he came back three and a half years after like he always does."

She wipes her face before continuing, and my heart breaks at the broken look in her sapphire eyes.

"He came to the apartment while we slept, he'd somehow broken in the door, and began shouting and breaking things. He yelled out that I was his wife and he came to collect me and his daughter to bring us home. Stacy began crying loudly and yelling at him to go away, and I used her distraction to get a phone to diall 911 and then leave it open on tbe table and got a lamp. I crashed the lamp on his head and left with Stacy the second he dropped on the floor with nothing but the clothes on our backs, Randy's wallet, and the phone that was still open. I told the operator everything that happened and left to the police station. The next month I lived with Stacy in a homeless shelter for abused women, until I had enough saved up to buy an apartment. I remember when I got the call from the police that the court was appointing me a lawyer to handle both the divorce and the trial to put him in jail. I dressed up in my nicest clothes, sent Stacy to school, and went to his office. It was there that I met my lawyer, whom you know as your dad."

She looks at me with a small smile, and I give her one back, albeit cautiously. She clears her throat and continues.

"When I met your dad, it was like nothing I'd ever felt before. Almost like a streak of lightning fell from the sky towards me and left me speechless. He was so incredibly handsome, and he had a gentle way about him that was so different from any man I'd ever known. It all touched my heart that evening, and I fell deeply in love. Unfortunately, I could tell he didn't feel the same way. It wasn't until he told me of your mother's death that I understood completely, though, that he just hadn't moved on and probably never would. Even knowing that, however, my heart stayed firmly in love and refused to move on. Every court meeting I got to know more about him, and his sweet but sad way of living was like a balm to my heart. He'd tell me about your mother, about you, about the move to San Diego, etc. And I in turn told him about myself as well. When he finally put Randy behind bars, there was a battle within me between happiness and sadness. On one hand, I didn't have to walk the streets constantly looking over my shoulder anymore and neither did Stacy. On the other, my time with Daniel was over. Well, he came by my apartment two weeks after that and asked me if I'd go on a date with him to see if there was something between us. I, of course, agreed and to make a long story short, we kept going out for about eight months before he asked me to marry him. By that time I was completely head over heels in love with him, and I said yes without any uncertainty. And I think you know the rest, until now."

I nod a little dazed with the information she's given me. One question, however, lays front and center in my mind.

"So what's changed now?" I ask curiously. She sighs.

"Randy is out of prison. He got time off for good behavior and is now out. He's also got some big shot lawyer to fight me for custody rights of Stacy." She says brokenly. I gasp.

"You mean he could take her away from you?" I ask incredulously. She nods miserably.

"The court is convinced that he's changed his life around, he has a good job to support her, and the lawyer is a big shot who's a close friend of his who wanted to help out so he's going to be fighting twice as hard as a normal lawyer would. It's stressing everyone out, and it's taken a huge toll on Stacy. She comes home and just locks herself in her room to sob. She hates even the thought of leaving with him, because all those memories of him beating me in front of her are still there. She just wants him gone, and I can't say I disagree at all. I can't lose my baby, Stephanie, I can't!"

I blink back the tears that want to come out and do something I haven't done since I met Carrie all those years ago. I give her a voluntary hug and whisper consolations to her as she cries into her hands. She finally composes herself and gives me a wobbly smile.

"This is who I really am Stephanie. I've always hatef the type of person I became when I married your father, but it's who I had to become to fit into his world. I tried at first to be who I was, but the sneers and snickers my way were too much. I was bullied way too much in high school for me to let myself get that kind of treatment again. So, I did a complete change. I dyed my hair a lighter blonde, groomed myself more often, taught myself to speak in the way of the rich and elite women I saw, and became a whole other person. Someone I would have looked at in digust back when I was a teenager. This, however, is who I truly am. Simple but fashionable clothes, honey and not platinum hair, and barely any to no make-up. And, oh how I miss cooking and eating! I used to eat carbs and big pieces of fried chicken and cheesecake and chocolate. So many sacrifices for the sake of fitting in, and for what? I'm certainly not happier. The only good thing in my life right now is my job. I've always liked reading, writing, and fashion so getting that editor job was a dream come true. It's my escape from the fact that my daughter never talks to me, I'm just a rebound that doesn't really matter to my husband, and I'm the type of person I always used to despise. Oh, Stephanie, I'm sorry if you've ever felt that I was pushy and annoying with food consumption and stuff like that. It's just that in my line of work I watch the most beautiful of people get criticized for the smallest of imperfections, and I don't want to see you and Stacy getting hurt like that. I want you two to conquer the world and take the opportunities that people like me are never given. I want the best for you, because to me you became my daughter the second I married your father. I do love you Stephanie, just as much as I do Stacy, sweetheart. Can you forgive my behavior all these years?" She pleads.

It feels like a small weight I've had in my heart all these years lifts when she says this, and I feel lighter and happier. I realize that mom would have wanted me to grab hold of the olive branch Carrie's extends and be happy. So I do.

"Of course I can Carrie," I reassure her. She exhales, relieved, and we hug once more.

We spend a little more talking about what she and my father are planning for the custody rights battle until Anna calls out that dinner is ready and invites Carrie to stay.

"Oh, thank you, but I have to get home. I want to be there to eat dinner with Stacy." Carrie explains. Then, with one last soft smile my way, she leaves to go home.

I'm completely absent from the conversations going on throughout dinner. All I can think about is everything I've learned, and how wrong I truly was about Carrie. She's so much better than what she pretended to be, and who knows? Maybe Stacy is too.

I sit on the couch to watch a little criminal minds since I don't have homework, until a small giggle takes me away from drooling over Derek. I look over and see Haley at the window giggling at whatever's out there. Curious and anxious to get my mind off of the thoughts in my head, I go over to her.

"What are you laughing at little bunny?" I ask her.

"Amy's kissing Noah," she says, laughing. "Why does it look like he's trying to eat her mouth, though?"

My eyes widen and I hurry over to look through the window slats with her. Sure enough Amy and Noah are out there playing tongue twister.

"Well, um," I stutter as I try to come up with a nice and clean explanation for what's going on out there.

Thankfully I'm saved by Mike calling Haley to go and get ready for bed. The door opens revealing Amy with a dreamy look on her face, and I smirk at her. She sees me looking and blushes red as I cross my arms.

"Sit down and tell me everything."

****

A/N: So, what did you think? The evil stepmother isn't evil after all! Were you expecting that to happen? I've had this idea in my head for quite a while now, and there's still many twists to come!

Okay so, want to hear an adorable story? Well, I have a two and a half year old cousin who lives in Dominican Republic and who will be visiting very soon. So, I was talking to her over the phone when my aunt put her on, and you want to know what she says? She says she wants to give me a present, so she's bringing me a bunch of chocolate!! Isn't that the most adorable thing ever?!!

Thanks for reading everyone, stay tuned! :-D

Bidh mi 'gad fhaicinn(I'll be seeing you in Scottish Gaelic)